Cowen's ascent was not unexpected. As vice chairman for the past year, he followed the tradition of moving to the top spot.

As the association's leader, Cowen said his responsibility is to be an advocate of higher education wherever possible -- no small chore, he said, because of the budget cuts that governments are making in that area.

In Louisiana, for instance, state-run colleges and university systems received nearly $66 million less from the state's general fund in the fiscal year that began July 1.

While acknowledging that states face budget problems, Cowen said such cuts "have intended and unintended consequences that will be harmful to the states and our country."

The most obvious consequence, he said, is higher tuition. While this may be the only area in which cash-strapped colleges can raise money, such increases make a college education more difficult to achieve.

On a national level, Cowen said he expects to spend much more time in Washington, before congressional committees and in small groups, talking up the importance of funding higher education in general and research in particular.

"I don't consider it lobbying," he said with a chuckle, "but I'm a skilled spokesperson for advancing the role of higher education in America."

Cowen, 66, leads an association of 61 public and private universities in the United States and Canada. Tulane is the only Louisiana member; there aren't any in Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.